Google WiFi 6 to Nest Pro - What is the process?

[MikeDinOak]

I have a Google WiFi 6 router for my 1GB fiber service.  I need QoS and have been told I need to switch to Nest Pro.  Does Nest Pro natively support fiber or do I need to add Nest Pro to the existing fiber router and then disable the WiFi functionality on the router?  Will Google replace my Google WiFi 6 Fiber router with Nest Pro?  My Google WiFi 6 router overheats, so would love to be able to get rid of it.  Also, will the QoS functionality on the Nest Pro allow me to limit bandwidth on a device so it doesn’t negatively impact bandwidth on higher priority devices?  Thanks for the help!!!

[olavrb · Accepted solution]

Specifications for Nest Wifi can be found here:

• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/6280668?hl=en'

Supported WAN types here:

• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/6246630?hl=en

It need internet fed through it with an ethernet cable. It does not include a modem and can't terminate any other conenction than ethernet. So you'll need a modem in front. Make sure it's in bridge/bypass/passthrough mode to avoid double NAT:

• https://dongknows.com/double-nat-vs-single-nat/
• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/6277579?hl=en

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The QoS functionality of Nest Wifi is very limited in terms of configuration options for the end user, you don't have options like throttling, thresholds etc. It's based on fq_codel, but it's fully automatic. It disables itself if your bandwidth is over a certain threshold, where this threshold isn't documented anywhere. You're 1gbps fiber is most certainly above that threshold though. The only way you can affect QoS is with:

• Priority device: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/6246483?hl=en 
• Preferred activities: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9541371?hl=en

So in summary: QoS on Nest Wifi is very limited in features, user options, and most likely disables itself with 1gbps WAN bandwidth. If you need QoS Nest Wifi ain't it. Look into Ubiquiti UniFi maybe?

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"Will Google replace my Google WiFi 6 Fiber router with Nest Pro?"? Likely not, Google Fiber is an ISP, Nest Wifi is a home router solution. No overlap there as far as I know.

[MikeDinOak]

Thanks for the very detailed answer.  Do you know if there is a way to determine how much bandwidth is being used at peak and how much is left to use without introducing contention issues?  Goal is to see if I really need QoS or if I can get by without it.

[olavrb]

I don't know the Google fiber products at all. This community is for Nest Wifi, which I already stated isn't the same. Maybe there is a community forum for Google fiber too?

Nest Wifi has some insight into bandwidth usage, but the information isn't accurate or very informative in my opinion. It's not historical either, so you can't check bandwidth usage at a given point back in time. Ubiquiti UniFi would give much better insight. pfSense and OPNsense too. It's not really a standard home router feature, more prosumer and business.